Hasselblad is a legendary name in the camera industry, and NASA famously took Hasselblad cameras to the moon. Our budget wasn't big enough to send Chris and Jordan to the moon, but we did give them a newsletter subscription and a free sandwich. Find out what they think of the camera in their hands-on review.
So, I dove into the X1D II pool and grabbed a used system with the 45/P lens. After having researched the Fuji and the Hasselblad extensively (thank YOU DPreview), I can make some observations based on personal experience.
Coming from a Hasselblad V system and a Nikon D700, I found the autofocus relatively fast in comparison.
Second, the camera is by far the best built camera I have ever used. It is even better than my tank-like 500 c/m with a 50mm lens attached. That late model 6x6 camera is HEAVY, and the X1D II really exceeds the quality of construction on that camera. Third, A FAST SD card makes a huge difference. I used a V30, V60, and V90 SD card...the V90 was blazingly fast. 3-4x as fast. Get the FAST SD card (V90).
Really just getting into the camera...so far, amazing.
"you want better autofocus like the Sony".. Hey this is a Medium Format camera and THAT is NOT a Sony. Its not about the pixels.. its about the look. And medium format just look better than 24x36 exactly as the 24x36 looks better than a smartphone.
A medium format camera is for those people there know what they are doing and got the time for the last 10%. If you want a fast camera for everything, well go for an iPhone or a Sony A something... (not there is something wrong with a sony, its a fantastic camera for almost everything).
For many decades, photographers made the most iconic pictures with their Hasselblad 500 serie cameras. And actually many photographers still do. So if photographers can make magic with a complete manual camera and even with film.. well I guess that the X1DII with all this electronic inside also can make some magic to ;-)
BTW, today is the anniversary of the iconic Earth Rise photo, taken Christmas Eve by Apollo 8. It was taken on a Hasselblad.
This is regarded as one of the most influential photographs ever, as it changed the perspective of many as to how we thought about earth.
“It’s clearly the most important photograph ever made,” says National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry, who likens the image to humanity seeing itself in a mirror for the first time.
TRU says that Hassy is like some high fashion/luxury brads like Gucci, Prada, Versace!!! Jesus I almost spilled my coffee! Another poor analogy from a clueless tr011. Named brands are not high fashion brands, especially Versace. Those are tags on clothes for nouveau riche, styleless, kitchy celebrity's around whom your "culture" is revolving. In Europe some other brands are considered high fashion, you probably never heard of them. Same goes to Rolex, TH and Omega. Putting Hassy in a same "league" with those things/brands is blasphemous. But hey, how would you possibly know that, you're not a photographer...
What tr011s and their bosses are failing to understand is that we (real users) need each and every company in industry, all of them!!! Competition drives things in a right direction, nothing else. Bashing one brand just to make other looks better is plain stupid.
Even on a Hassy topic, Thoughts R Us is on fire with "Christmas special Sony bashing session", very sad, very... Persistence and mind-blowing dedication on bashing Sony, putting Sony in negative context at any price and spinning and lying is just wow, just wow! TRU says - EyeAF is not important, colors are. Both things are important but if AF is not reliable, no bee-es as "color science" will help, your shot is not in focus. So, what is more important, AF of course and EyeAF is one of new technoligies in wich Sony excels, so according to TRU, thats not what matters. Nonsense as usual. Just a couple of days ago, spoke with a friend, Sony user, former Canon, wedding/events/portraits. I'll try to paraphrase him - "eyeAF in a way liberate me, I don't have to think if my shot in focus anymore, it's there, every time! All I have to think now while I shoot is composition and where's light. That's awesomely rewarding... But how would TRU knows that, he's not a photographer.
BTW, this Hassy is selling. It's been shown as the #1 selling medium format camera for a while now at B&H. My guess is that this will be a breakthrough in sales for Hasselblad.
Which is great, since Hasselblad is such a legendary name in photography that it's good to see it survive and thrive.
(chuckle) it was shown on the B&H website as #1 best seller before the camera even came out (or something similar) because it was silly/ridiculous when I first saw the disclaimer. Bottom line, don't go by some retail store's "#1 seller" claim as opposed to what you see being actually used in your particular part of the industry.
... Just like you never take to heart how much a university says you can make in a given major of study, rather look at what actual corporations/frms are paying ;)
Camera has no video and is slow to AF but IQ is still fantastic.Colours and rendering this camera sensor can produce are very good. Would love to take this camera for the spin is studio but at such price will have to stay with my trusty A7R3.
There is a lot to like about this camera. The lenses are great (but no greater than the Fuji ones), the colors are really nice (and clearly nicer than Sony's, close to Nikon), the design is lovely, image quality is still very good,... For a certain type of photography, that I am tempted to call good photography, it is a great offering.
The concern I have as a H6D-100c owner is Hasselblad themselves. They have failed to convince me that DJI still is willing to invest significantly in the X1D and H lines.
In my view, the X1D line is perfectly safe. HxD's future might be questionable. The bodies haven't changed a lot since early 2000s. On top of that, they're (H6D 50) 10.000€/$ more than equivalent X1D... Regards
No reason to buy nice camera this when the Sony a74 has noticeably more detail and about as good color, although the MF fans will always claim to see even more ineffable color wonderfulness.
And Sony fans will always defend their colors when we all know it’s a huge factor in why they will never be considered by 99% of pro shooters (exempt for video). Not opinion: fact.
Had an a7r3 and was frustrated with the buttons, wheels, joy stick, menus, nested menus, etc. The simplicity of the X1D2 interface gets the camera out of the way. The images are stunning. The price is stunning. Egonomics are outstanding- far better than sony or leica M. Autofocus and battery life are mediocre.
(IRT complexity), I’m a commercial rated pilot (former military) and have flown over one dozen different helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.)
I've seen the "color science" discussions here quite a few times, for sure. When I was looking for a FF cam, well, I went with the one that produced the images I liked. Could have bought any brand, but there is a difference.
The IQ and the colors will be superior with the Hasselblad. Really, everything will be superior except AF (which admittedly is a big point for many), battery life, and the price.
As for the color science debate...yes, it makes a difference. Same as in the video area, where Arri is considered to have the best color science.
Sony fans will argue that colors don't make any difference, but then with each new release say that the colors are better...Sony fixed the problem!
Also funny how some will argue that something like eye-AF is so important but something so foundational as colors don't matter. I've taken a lot of great photos without eye-AF; it's not really that hard. But colors are one of the main ways that a photograph creates impact.
camera with the best 135mm sensor, world's best auto focus, world's best battery (in milc world), world's best video AF, equipped with the latest features, has the most accurate colours is „boring and ordinary“?
@NemanRa: there's a whole lot of FF sensors that are so close that they all are for practical purposes the "best 135 mm sensor." As to best AF, the Sony a9II has better AF than the A7RIV; it's not even close.
As to most accurate colors, well, I don't know if that's true or not but it doesn't matter. There is difference between clinically accurate colors and pleasing, desirable colors. I've seen a few pro's make this point. The objective is desirable colors and Sony doesn't have the most desirable color science.
So yes the Sony is boring and ordinary. Others have similar quality sensors, similar or better AF, and similar or better colors, and similar or better ergonomics.
But the Hasselblad has a superior sensor being the larger medium format sensor, a really unique color science, tremendous ergonomics including an amazing menu system, and a tremendous history in the photographic world. That makes it a hammer of the gods.
I like H as well. The X1D II is on my wish list. Haven't tried it yet, hope it's better than the first version. I rented the mark 1 for a few days and although the camera is pretty, it was (unfortunately) a pain in the rear to use it, especially after modern milc and dlsr cameras. Everything was buggy and sluggish. Start up time is unusually long, unreliable auto focus, battery drains like crazy, EVF - nothing special... It felt more like a prototype than a finished product. Regards
it took about one year for the H6D-100c to be fully functional and stable after release also...
Now it looks like P1 has followed the same approach with the IQ4-150... very mature firmware at initial release... many unhappy photographers there also...
I would offer to chip in on the moon trip, except these guys are great. I find their reviews informative and entertaining. At least wait. until you collect enough for a round trip.
The X1Dii is clearly intended for studio with flash. The studio could be outdoors, but with scrims and flash for that commercial polish. To this end, X1D lenses have leaf shutters.
The detail MF can capture, including deep into shadows, is amazing. I used a CFV back on various Hasselblad V cameras for years. The limited range of focal lengths keeps you in the goldilocks zone of photography - never wide and never long. The ability to use legacy Hasselblad lenses, and the relatively low price of the X1Dii is tempting. We'll see what the future brings.
One must clearly admit, from the crowd here, that many people are being biased against Fujifilm. The Reason or -proof is, that when the GFX-50R was being reviewed, people argued about "old 50 MP Sensor...", and especially when into comparsion with Fullframe, then came always the "...but the D850 does have ISO 64..." argument.
It's way interesting here, to read, that nobody argues about that Sensor from the Hasselblad X1D I or -II.
So it's pretty just the name, if it's Hasselblad, people acting as ordinary, if it's being Fujifilm and the GFX, then came these sort of comments...very weird. ;-)
Got to try first edition X1D and it was nothing short of epic camera. Color tonality and gradients feels a bit more special than FF. The camera itself is a joy to hold. Can't say it was fast or very accurate at focusing but damn the images were great looking. I said to myself, if I would need to choose a personal camera which I would love just to take with me it would be X1D, no doubts. Even if it's not perfectly sorted out it is occasion when you handle it. Not many cameras offer this feel.
@Becksvart ...Ιt is. And it is a great camera. But... I have the feeling that Hassy's people feel somehow uneasy the last 4-5 years. Maybe because it is quite demanding to serve the core values of a legendary brand the way you do it with commodity products. Leica has shown the way, no matter if we like this way or not. They should find theirs.
They might consider updating the text: "Hasselblad ... can deliver up to 15 stops of dynamic range, as opposed to the standard 10-12 stops expected from most full frame cameras." Most full frame cameras offer between 14 and 15 stops, APS-C reaches 14 stops today, whereas my D90 managed 12.5 stops 10 years ago.
Why? Everyone asks. Answer. I have a Z7 and a D5 and a Leica M10. And used to own an A7rii. Why do I have a Hasselblad x1d ii? Colors, colors and did I mention colors. All anyone seems to mention is eye focus. In my book when the first thing a photographer asks about is “eye focus” then I’m not talking that photographer very seriously. Yes the camera has its quirks. Like any camera. Z7 af is not reliable, d5 dynamic range is not good , m10 well maybe nothing wrong with that camera 😂. Sony skin tones, not going there. And did we mention. https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Hasselblad/X1D-50c Oh yeah the sensor! Ah that doesn’t matter. Let’s talk more about that you can buy a Sony for less. It’s not a Gucci or a Prada. Its not for the kardashians. It’s a photographers camera. I like how because a camera isn’t blazing fast it’s automatically a “landscape camera”. Photographers today are like today’s athletes. They are compilers! The more statistics or features the better.
Jim Kasson here showed that if you shoot RAW you can imitate any colour. It is the raw interpreter that says how the colours will be. While sharpness you can’t reconstruct.
@danel the XD1c II less than the more silver-esque, orginal XD1, but it's for sure tons more "bling-bling" factor, than just a tool to get the job done, Fujiflm GFX-50S/R Bodies, with exactly the same Sony 44x33mm MF Sensor.
Personally, *if* i could afford this Gear, i won't, because Fuji is way cheaper, also the GFX Lenses, in contrast. And i like its design more, reminds me much about the once famous CONTAX Brand. AF is way better onto the GFX, than on these Hasselblad Twins, and the Eyecup is weird on these, for my taste.
@joohan “ Jim Kasson here showed that if you shoot RAW you can imitate any colour. It is the raw interpreter that says how the colours will be. While sharpness you can’t reconstruct.”
That is the most ridiculous statement for a camera argument. You go right ahead and buy one body and spend your time trying make the files look like other brands with their signature look. While I’m at it I will make my Volvo go as fast as a Porsche then I will be driving a Porsche. Genius.
I agree with danelmix: in theory you can adjust ad infinitum to get your colors any way you want, but in the real world it's not always that easy.
I'd rather have to do my own eye focusing, and get the colors right, than have eye AF but with lesser colors. It's funny how some treat eye focusing as if it's the hardest thing in the world, and thus need auto eye-AF, but then treat complex color adjustments as if it's no big deal.
Color is so fundamental to the feel of an image, and yes, different brands have their own color signature and it can be important.
I think the idea is that RAW does not have a colour signature, it is RAW but the software used on PCs can be more or less interpreting the colours the way you want. For example, Fuji has helped adobe to implement their different colour styles. What has been suggested is that you can make your own profile for your camera and it will be saved as template to be used with all your photos while importing, people are really going wild on colour science in RAW but there is none unless you develop the RAW to jpeg in camera.
There is no one RAW format. There are different RAW formats from each company, and each piece of RAW converter software processes those files differently. RAW is still a (minimally) processed file from each camera company...far less processed than a jpeg, but still dependent on the camera and choices the hardware and software engineers have made.
And colors are so complex that it's not always trivially easy to get the output from one camera to look like another.
So sure, RAW files give one more data and hence more latitude in post processing. But you still do not start from the same point with each camera. Each camera still has its own signature.
And if one wants a certain look anyway and can get it from one brand SOOC, then why not just go with that brand and avoid all of the post processing hassles?
"RAW does not have a colour signature, it is RAW but the software used on PCs can be more or less interpreting the colours the way you want."
You may be right that the proprietary Hasselblad colour math is inside Phocus or the Hasselblad-RAW library in Lightroom, not inside the camera itself. But so what? It's just math, but it's still their trade secret, and you still have to pay them to get it. $10k - $20k for glorified instagram filter, it's a lot, but if it's a really good filter. . . <shrug?>
Also the math is presumably calibrated to work with their CFA.
I think you're probably wrong, but I'm not sure. What exactly has Classon shown? His posts have familiar "confidently wrong" Internet tone, I don't see sample images, and I don't see others repeating what he did and confirming---a big red flag.
Meanwhile, countless posts: - fashion: "fiddling" with Sony and Fuji colours, unsatisfied - landscape: using expodisc and xrite cards in Phocus and Capture One, not "fiddling"
You wouldn’t want a medium format shooting sports anyway so commenting that the AF isn’t good enough to shoot Sports is kind of silly. I shoot 4x5 and it would make a horrible sports camera but lucky for me I guess I am not a sports photographer. This Hasselblad would be a fantastic landscape camera though and still lives etc. Those are the kinds of things you buy a medium format camera for in the first place.
If this had the 100mp sensor, it'd still be dead on arrival.
I disagree Chris. I can't think of an iphone using landscape photographer with 10-15k to spend on a system I'd recommend this thing to. Nor can I think of an iphone using landscape photographer with 10-15k to spend...
As photographers, many of us should be able to see the value of design and aesthetics, not just quantified specs. And if price isn't an issue, this is certainly one of the most beautiful cameras you can own.
@dereken: I so agree. I've always found it odd that some photographers, who should appreciate beautiful things, just discount that in a camera.
As you mention, if someone can afford this comfortably, and has some use for it, then why not? To some a $10,000 to $15,000 outlay of funds for camera/lens is like buying a coffee at Starbucks. And it will take beautiful photos.
People spend big money all of the time for things because they look a certain way. Look at high fashion. Look at brands like Gucci, Prada, Versace, etc. Look at the money people spend on brand jewelry like Tiffany's and Cartier. Look at Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, and other watch brands. Look at the money spent on luxury car brands, etc.
The list could go on and on. In fact these high end cameras are relatively inexpensive compared to the items from other luxury brands.
You say, "I know sports photography isn't the point," then spend all the time discussing it. All features require development time. I don't want them to work on things besides IQ. Me-too development will get from uncompetitive to uncompetitive without solving any real show-stopping problems.
The shift from v1 -> v2 clarity/shadow/highlight algorithms in Phocus was a big deal that this review completely missed, no? not mkII specific, but did happen after X1D's launch.
Hasselblad has always been ahead on calibration. The camera already knows the color cast created by all the native lenses at various apertures. Phocus has distortion correction for all their lenses, even V lenses.
We don't need "eye AF". We don't need Android apps. We certainly don't need PDAF at cost of banding. Yes, I would like PanasonicLeica level AF, but I don't need it. I need lenses with well-calibrated floating elements.
They should offer True Focus on X series, which understands field curvature and focus shift and builds those bench calibrations into the camera. It's ok to make compromises to make the overall system better, but at this point it's no longer ok to upsell the H system in any artificial way. There's already a significant envelope where X system is better than H system, and this should have been clear from day 1.
They should offer an eshutter mode with PC _input_ instead of output: create time-windows by clearing the sensor electronically every shutter-interval without reading it, then close the shutter and read after the window where the PC input pulse arrives. They built a custom back with this feature and gave it to a noted photographer to shoot dragonflies but did not share it with others. This is a general feature of which many people interested in this camera would make creative use.
Similarly, they should copy Phase One's multi-read-for-lower-virtual-base-ISO feature.
I think this model of Hasselblad is also intersting to photographers who are used to the other "real" Hasselblads. And they are used to manual focusing - as most photographers are (- or used to be...). So, I think it is a bit exaggerated to critisize its autofocus. This camera is clearly not for everyone
What he's trying to say is: you're paying a huge premium for yesterday's technology. As far as focusing goes the competition have left it behind. You may have other priorities, if so: Enjoy!
I don't think he could be clearer but it puts everyone on the defensive for some reason. Like these things have a *right* to exist simply because Hasselblad once put a camera on the moon. Evolution is crueler than that I'm afraid.
I think Hasselblad is trying to build on its name and quality, not on features. The only thing to be said about this Hasselblad is that it looks really great and that it takes photos well, but that is all.
Yeah..that first scene summarizes the state of the photographic industry and why smartphones are so popular.
However, dedicated cameras can't really have a share button since they don't have the wireless connectivity. And most will not pay for a cell phone plan for their dedicated camera. Not to mention if you want to text message, post to social media, etc...well, you need a smartphone calibre OS to do that, and even more computational power, etc.
In short the dedicated camera will never have what a smartphone can do, no more than a horse can hope to replicate all of the features of a car.
The camera industry has solved more difficult problems than that before. A dedicated camera doesn't have to do everything or even a few of the things a phone does. Maybe someone can invent an optional grip that attaches to existing cameras.
Samsung was on the road to doing this when it made cameras. If I remember correctly, once your camera was paired with your phone you could email images directly from the rear screen of your camera. I never used the feature, but I remember talking with a photojournalist who explained that he could take photos in the field and instantly email the best ones to his editor within seconds straight from the camera.
If Samsung was still in the business I suspect they'd have figured out how to do this for social media as well.
I agree. If Samsung was still in the business they would have done it. Sony makes both smartphones and cameras yet you sometimes get the feeling their different divisions don't work together. Just compare Sony camera touchscreens with Canon or Panasonic or others.
Good observation about Samsung. I think they saw the profit and growth potential in smartphones, and how smartphones would supplant dedicated cameras for most users, and decided to get out of the camera business.
Also good point about Sony. Yes they have smartphones but theirs are failing to sell in the market and have slightly above a 0% market share. So unlike Samsung, which could count on sizable smartphone revenue, Sony needed to stick around with dedicated cameras. I'm sure if Sony could switch places they would.
And yes, it's funny that Sony, who should have the best touch screens of all on their cameras, actually have the worst. Go figure.
I get that: * This camera is no replacements to a D6 , 1DXMKII or and A9 for action and birding. * It has really good lenses, which is to be expected at the price point. * The leaf shutter should be the killer feature in the studio with the Strobes at fast shutter speeds.
But if you compare this to the D850, Z7 and Z mount lenses, Canon R or A7R MKIV: * What do you gain from a sensor perspective in terms of DR, noise etc? * With the lenses that Nikon and Canon now have for their mirror less, and looking at the Canon Patents, are Hasselblads lenses really that much better? * The Fuji GFX100 Elephant in the room with better AF and 100mp resolution.
I don't think the leaf shutter makes any difference for strobes indoors. 1600J studio strobes take ~1/100th second to fire anyway so there is no rush. You can make your studio as dark as it needs to be, too.
Maybe it matters for using strobes outdoors on sunny days, but Profoto B2 have long T0.1 times, too. Only Nikon "speedlights" etc. fire fast. Maybe it's saving strobe battery by letting you run the same shoot on lower power, but I'm not sure it's actually pushing the shooting envelope. I've never shot fashion outdoors with strobes so I may be missing something.
Mirrorless leaf shutter means absolutely no shake on a tripod with long lenses. It may also help manage weight, a key goal of the system. There is no mechanical rolling shutter effect at the speeds beyond flash sync, which enables some things. And it's just something cool they have, leaf shutters that work at 1/2000th and are reliable. I haven't found it useful in the studio.
carton there is elinchrom 1200 packs with sports heads 1/2500 t 0.5. With that amount of power you can use grids outside. Profoto D1X has 1/400 t 0.1. So you can use 1/1000, 1/500 with strobes and get full power flash. That is a huge benefit outside. Cause you can use the strobe with big modifiers at distance for group shots. I don't see any other benefits of this Hasselblad, cause for landscape work nothing beats Fuji GFX100 with IBIS.
I think the landscape question is not so clear because some people prefer to hike with a lighter camera, prefer Hasselblad colours, like a specific XCD lens over GFX, etc. I see your point on IBIS. I've lost a shot on a tripod because of wind, but I wonder if I might be doing something really incompetent. Probably IBIS voicecoil is lighter than a tripod if you can go fully without, so that'd be a pretty thorough victory on the weight question for someone who shoots that way.
Thanks for the flash detail. I hadn't considered using faster shutter than t0.1 because I found out quickly everything turns blue, and I wanted the best colour accuracy. I guess if you were already using gels and intentionally not matching the sun it wouldn't matter. It's great to hear from people with experience! I haven't got any here.
The GFX100 is indeed a monster, and the Hassy is not going to compare well in a head-to-head of features/specifications.
This camera, like the old version of the same, is a proper studio camera, with the nice ability that the studio can move with you a bit more easily (e.g. landscape photography).
Lenses, size, UI, and flash sync. All the cheerleaders for HSS have never used a leaf shutter in bright sun with a moderate power flash. You get reach with modifiers that cannot be achieved with HSS.
carton I use flash a lot outside, but mostly HSS (or slower than 1/320). But I use gels and don't think that it's that big of a deal to get a gel for shutter speeds closer to t 0.5. Cause sometimes you can get bare bulb, sometimes 1/4 CTO, sometimes 1/4 CTB. It's mostly partly cloudy where I live and color temperature is always different cause of that. But when you are on a move it's so much nicer to have AD200 instead of AD600 (Godox). Can't wait for that global shutter revolution. Until then only Hasselblad, Phase one and Leica can bring you those benefits of either dealing with less weight or having way more power.
"Dude, what's that thing with 3 legs you set your camera on top of? Get with the times. Nobody carries one of those any longer when cameras can get rid of shakes down to 5 seconds. That camera is ancient if it can't do that." -- all the young people today
Hand-held? That's why tripods and monopods were invented. Only gear-geeks need IBIS, or Autofocus. When I'm out for a walk, my camera is always on a monopod (a good walking stick).
Just for you offended people, because everything is a trigger nowadays, I was only kidding. Cameras made today are incredible and don't need any type of support to take sharp pictures. Since younger people are the ones that never had to lug 20 pounds worth of equipment around and most use cameras with built in stabilization I figured they would be the ones that would say "what's that 3 legged thing?" Remember, it's a frickin' joke. If you'd like to take it any other way, well, that's on you and it might be a good idea to get a sense of humor. The opposite sex really find that attractive rather than someone that's angry all the time.
As for the dinosaur comment, at least I know how to use a 4x5 camera properly and not make everything look like some macro shot.
Maybe there will be room for Chris & Co, on NASA's next deep space probe?
As usual, I can't make a very fair review of Chris's lame shtick—because I can't force myself to watch the whole thing.
His point about autofocus, is typical Chris. REAL Photographers can, and do, use manual focus. Yousuf Karsh stopped working before the invention of autofocus, so did many other accomplished portrait photographers.
I used and stated that I used manual focus to make the portraits work in this episode so I guess that makes me a REAL photographer. I must admit though that I've never used wet plates so nevermind.
If a camera offers autofocus, we'll test it. If the autofocus performs poorly, and Chris needs to resort to manual focus, we'll definitely mention it.
It's worth mentioning that back when manual focus was the only option, the lenses were designed for that task with very smooth, well indexed focus rings. Modern focus by wire lenses make manual focusing a less enjoyable proposition, so being forced to use it a serious downside.
It's important to explain where cheaper cameras are better than this one because people will pay a lot thinking they are getting an Ultimate Camera and then be surprised.
The comment thread's shift to "Hasselblad needs to work on closing this gap" was disappointing. The best possible outcome is terrible: they'll become a luxury name-plate.
This camera's for IQ / weight ratio, IQ / $ ratio, or fun-to-use factor. Checkbox-ism will ruin the camera.
It's frustrating current happy customers are misunderstood. "They should work on an Android app"---I bet that's a quarter their opportunity-cost for a year, then ongoing. For a tenth the system cost you can buy an iPad. You are an "Android guy," great, so am I. But you won't review the app at all? Or explain Phocus's edge over Lightroom? And if they follow this Steve Huff tier advice the rest of us have to live without what their developers could have done in that time.
but I'm overdoing it. The review does explain what I care about.
Can't see any reason why an objective photographer would pick this camera over the Fuji options, either 50 or 100MP. Because what this camera is good at, so are the Fujis, but also so much more. I guess to flaunt the brand cachet?
1. phocus color correction 2. XCD lenses 3. interface and shape
All three are preference. Some may prefer Capture One, GFX, and the heavier camera in exchange IBIS. But all three preferences can be defended in either direction. They are a real competitor, IMHO.
@Relaxed, Ken Rockwell (a photographer, not a comedian) said about the GFX100: " Abysmal ergonomics; the worst-handling handheld camera I've ever used!"
You're right. $20k would sure buy a lot of lottery tickets. I could also go to Vegas and put it all down on black to double my money. Or, to make things exciting, bet on the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA championship this year. LOL
@The Caged Non, that's OK. I ignore DPReviews opinions as well. Fred Picker (Zone VI Studios) opines that the only relevant test is one YOU run. My real world isn't DPR's real world, nor is it Ken Rockwell's, Chase Jarvis's, Thorsten Overgaard's, Kirk Tuck's, Steve Huff's, etc, etc. Opinions are like cell phones, almost everyone has one.
I've read Reviews onto the Net, the AF is painfully slow, but ordinary, with MF Gear, Fujifilm was being #1, to bring an DSLR-like Medium Format Experience, with the GFX-50S/R. And Pentax before, with their 645D&Z Models.
And yes, it was beating the D8x0 back into 2012...just with an APS-C Sensor, only at ISO 100. Can't await the Sigma Foveon Fullframe DSLM into 2020, with the Leica SL 24-90/2.8-4 Zoom, or think about the Leica SL Apo-Summicron 35/2 Prime.... because you do like 35mm Primes.... ;-)))
If you know the camera has limitations, and its strength is land- and cityscapes mainly, there is need to gripe about it not being useful for sports or action photography, for which it surely is not intended anyways.
Likewise, a Porsche is not truck, or vice versa. Why would I gripe in those cases?
Re Sigma: great cameras in daylight light, so that's enough. Do I gripe about 100 ASA film not being suitable for e.g. a concert photo shoot?
Cameras need to be fairly evaluated within their boundaries.
This video review strikes me as extremely superficial overall anyways.
Partly disagree. It might not be appropriate to compare with the A7R IV being limited by a smaller sensor -- btw. DXOMark gave a higher score to the A7R III, i.e. sensor size limits high resolutions once more. But it must compare with Fujifilm's GFX cameras.
adegroot: "If you know the camera has limitations...". I agree with you generally, but not everyone knows the limitations, so it's fair enough to point out what those limitations are. But yes - the review should then concentrate on how well it performs for its intended usage with reference to the competition. There was some of this, but a bit more depth would have been welcome. I imagine that the A7R IV would be under consideration for most people in the market for this camera (size/weight/resolution), so more depth on how these two compare for landscape work would be useful.
Seriously though, reminds me of Sigma; great to use on a blood red moon, but for the other 99.9% of the time, totally irrelevant in the face of significantly better competitor cameras at lower prices.
Same body and pixel-count, but the Hasselblad X1D II 50C moves quicker and offers the biggest rear screen in the medium format market – and it costs a lot less than the original.
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We think it excels at stills.
Topaz Labs' flagship app uses AI algorithms to make some complex image corrections really, really easy. But is there enough here to justify its rather steep price?
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional film productions or even A-cameras for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both the speed and focus to capture fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.
What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.
While peak Milky Way season is on hiatus, there are other night sky wonders to focus on. We look at the Orion constellation and Northern Lights, which are prevalent during the winter months.
We've gone hands-on with Nikon's new 17-28mm F2.8 lens for its line of Z-mount cameras. Check out the sample gallery to see what kind of image quality it has to offer on a Nikon Z7 II.
The winning and finalist images from the annual Travel Photographer of the Year awards have been announced, showcasing incredible scenes from around the world. Check out the gallery to see which photographs took the top spots.
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We think it excels at stills.
Using affordable Sony NP-F batteries and the Power Junkie V2 accessory, you can conveniently power your camera and accessories, whether they're made by Sony or not.
According to Japanese financial publication Nikkei, Sony has moved nearly all of its camera production out of China and into Thailand, citing geopolitical tensions and supply chain diversification.
A pro chimes in with his long-term impressions of DJI's Mavic 3. While there were ups and downs, filmmaker José Fransisco Salgado found that in his use of the drone, firmware updates have made it better with every passing month.
Landscape photography has a very different set of requirements from other types of photography. We pick the best options at three different price ranges.
AI is here to stay, so we must prepare ourselves for its many consequences. We can use AI to make our lives easier, but it's also possible to use AI technology for more nefarious purposes, such as making stealing photos a simple one-click endeavor.
This DIY project uses an Adafruit board and $40 worth of other components to create a light meter and metadata capture device for any film photography camera.
Scientists at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia have used a transmitter with 'less power than a microwave' to produce the highest resolution images of the moon ever captured from Earth.
The tiny cameras, which weigh just 1.4g, fit inside the padding of a driver's helmet, offering viewers at home an eye-level perspective as F1 cars race through the corners of the world's most exciting race tracks. In 2023, all drivers will be required to wear the cameras.
The new ultrafast prime for Nikon Z-mount cameras is a re-worked version of Cosina's existing Voigtländer 50mm F1 Aspherical lens for Leica M-mount cameras.
There are plenty of hybrid cameras on the market, but often a user needs to choose between photo- or video-centric models in terms of features. Jason Hendardy explains why he would want to see shutter angle and 32-bit float audio as added features in cameras that highlight both photo and video functionalities.
SkyFi's new Earth Observation service is now fully operational, allowing users to order custom high-resolution satellite imagery of any location on Earth using a network of more than 80 satellites.
In some parts of the world, winter brings picturesque icy and snowy scenes. However, your drone's performance will be compromised in cold weather. Here are some tips for performing safe flights during the chilliest time of the year.
The winners of the Ocean Art Photo Competition 2022 have been announced, showcasing incredible sea-neries (see what we did there?) from around the globe.
Venus Optics has announced a quartet of new anamorphic cine lenses for Super35 cameras, the Proteus 2x series. The 2x anamorphic lenses promise ease of use, accessibility and high-end performance for enthusiast and professional video applications.
We've shot the new Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2R WR lens against the original 56mm F1.2R, to check whether we should switch the lens we use for our studio test scene or maintain consistency.
Nature photographer Erez Marom continues his series about landscape composition by discussing the multifaceted role played by the sky in a landscape image.
The NONS SL660 is an Instax Square instant camera with an interchangeable lens design. It's made of CNC-milled aluminum alloy, has an SLR-style viewfinder, and retails for a $600. We've gone hands-on to see what it's like to shoot with.
Recently, DJI made Waypoints available for their Mavic 3 series of drones, bringing a formerly high-end feature to the masses. We'll look at what this flight mode is and why you should use it.
Astrophotographer Bray Falls was asked to help verify the discovery of the Andromeda Oxygen arc. He describes his process for verification, the equipment he used and where astronomers should point their telescopes next.
OM Digital Solutions has released firmware updates for the following cameras to add compatibility support for its new M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO lens: OM-D E-M1 Mark II, E-M1 Mark III, E-M5 Mark III, E-M1X, and OM-5.
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